Mark Montalto, 61, the owner of the now-defunct Port St. Lucie Properties, was arrested Wednesday in connection to an alleged scheme that left over 100 homeowners and subcontractors with unpaid bills and property liens totaling $3.7 million.
According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD), the arrest follows a nearly two-year investigation into widespread fraud and financial misconduct tied to Montalto and his company. He was taken into custody around 10 a.m. by the U.S. Marshals Task Force at his workplace in Martin County.
Montalto is facing 46 criminal charges, including 17 counts of grand theft, three counts of theft from elderly victims, and a racketeering charge. His bond has been set at $2,775,000, and he remains in custody at the St. Lucie County Jail.
Authorities say the investigation began in May 2023 after several homeowners filed fraud complaints against Montalto’s company. Between December 2021 and September 2023, 21 confirmed victims reportedly paid Montalto significant sums to build homes that were either never completed or not started at all. In many cases, permits were never pulled despite contracts and funds being in place.
Homeowners like Dorothy Calixte, who is listed in the arrest affidavit, welcomed the news of Montalto’s arrest. “Thank God… I need justice,” she told FOX29.
Investigative reporter Dave Bohman originally exposed the issue in 2023, uncovering how subcontractors placed liens on homes after not being paid by Montalto. This left unsuspecting homeowners stuck with debt or facing foreclosure.
More than 100 properties in St. Lucie County were affected, with lien amounts reaching into the hundreds of thousands per home. While some homes were eventually completed, others were abandoned mid-construction, or never broke ground.
Further developments are expected, and updates will be provided via FOX29 and WFLX.com.
